Celebs gather to help fight anti-Semitism

“Anti-Semitism outside of the United States is worse than it’s ever been,” Sheinberg said. “Our ability to do something about it is through groups like this.”

That effort to do something drew a crowd that included Jeffrey Katzenberg, Stacey Snider, Jeff Small, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, David Linde, Matt Blank and J.J. Abrams to the BevHilton for the event, which raised more than $2 million.

Among the speakers were Drew Barrymore, co-chair Bruce Ramer, Kirk Douglas (who turned 93 that day) and Richard Dreyfuss, who said he once asked his father why he didn’t practice Judaism, and his reply was: “Because I’m very good at it.”

The dinner ended with Spielberg’s acceptance speech in which he said, “Bigotry can only be eradicated through education, experience and mindfulness.”